Speaking on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, Tshisekedi said Rwanda is continuing to support the M23 rebel group despite formally agreeing to withdraw its forces from Congolese territory.

“Rwanda pretends to have withdrawn its troops but in reality, Rwanda troops continue to be present on Congolese soil and to support the M23,” President Felix Tshisekedi said, referring to a Rwandan-backed armed group that made rapid gains in the eastern DRC.

Tshisekedi also hinted at stronger security cooperation with the United States, potentially linked to ensuring a stable supply of critical minerals such as cobalt, which is vital for electronic devices and electric vehicle batteries.

Eastern DRC, rich in natural resources and bordering Rwanda, has endured decades of violence fueled by dozens of non-state armed groups. The M23 insurgency, which reignited in late 2021, has seen the group seize large areas in the east with alleged Rwandan support, displacing hundreds of thousands and deepening an already dire humanitarian crisis.

Read Also: Nigeria Strengthens Border Screening Amid Ebola Outbreak in DR Congo

The international community continues to express concern over the deteriorating situation, with calls for both regional cooperation and accountability for armed groups operating in the volatile region.

Source: Channels

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As of Tuesday, the country administered 300 doses of the vaccine to high-risk individuals in a border region with the Democratic Republic of Congo ,DRC.

Director-General of the Africa Centre for Disease Control – Africa CDC- Jean Kaseya,, confirmed the commencement of the campaign, stating the urgency of curbing the outbreak.

The Rwandan Ministry of Health targeted health workers, cross-border business operators, hospitality staff, and other high-risk populations in the initial rollout.

DRC remains at the epicenter of the African mpox outbreak, reporting 2,912 new cases and 14 deaths in the past week alone, bringing the total to 6,105 cases and 738 deaths since January.

The DRC is expected to begin its vaccination efforts in early October, with 165,000 doses already delivered and additional supplies pledged by European nations.

Director-General of the World Health Organization ,WHO, Tedros Ghebreyesus,  called for international cooperation to halt the spread of mpox.

Other African nations, including Nigeria, have also received support in the form of vaccine donations.

In August, the United States provided 10,000 doses of the mpox vaccine to Nigeria through USAID, further bolstering efforts to contain the outbreak.

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The crush happened on Sunday in Rubavu district, where 37 people were injured, four of whom were hospitalised with serious injuries, a statement from the ministry of local government said.  It however apologised to the deceased’s family, adding that a medical team on site “did everything possible”.

Kagame  who is running for a fourth term  has been the country’s de facto leader since 1994, when his then rebel group, the Rwanda Patriotic Front, seized power at the end of the genocide directed at members of his Tutsi ethnic group.  He won the last presidential election in 2017 with nearly 99% of the vote.

The 66-year-old president has faced criticism from rights groups for cracking down on the opposition – but he has fiercely defended Rwanda’s record on human rights, saying his country respects political freedoms.

Paul Kagame and his RPF Inkotanyi party have not commented on the deadly crush.

Kagame will face two other politicians – Frank Habineza of the Democratic Green Party and independent Philippe Mpayimana – in the race to become president.

Diane Rwigara, an outspoken critic of  Kagame, was barred from standing in next month’s presidential election.

The electoral commission said Ms Rwigara had failed to provide the correct documentation to show she had no criminal record and had not shown she had enough support nationwide to stand.

 Rwigara, who was also disqualified from the 2017 poll, dismissed these reasons, saying she had been cheated out of her right to campaign.

Rwandans will head to the polls on 15 July to elect their next president and lawmakers.

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